RELATIVE AERATION REQUIREMENTS BY SOFT ROT AND BASIDIOMYCETE WOOD-DESTROYING FUNGI
Abstract
ISOLATES OF 50 SOFT-ROT FUNGI AND 41 Basidiomycete decay fungi were studied for growth responses in sealed and partially closed culture tubes. All isolates maintained a uniform rate of linear growth until oxygen was exhausted in the tubes, which suggests that respiration was mediated through the cytochrome system. Linear growth was suppressed more by lack of aeration with the soft rotters than with the Basidiomycetes, but the reserve was true as regards many soft rotters isolated from cooling towers, when growth was measured by the weight of mycelium produced. Taking total growth (weight of mycelium) as the preferable index of relative tolerance of restricted aeration, it is concluded that the prevalence of soft rot in the wet wood of cooling towers, and the near absence of Basidiomycetes, is attributable at least in part to a superior tolerance of poor aeration on the part of the soft-rot fungi concerned. No significant difference in growth responses was noted between white rotters and brown rotters in the Basidiomycete group. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1961
- Accession Number
- AD0262245
Entities
People
- Catherine G. Duncan
Organizations
- Forest Products Laboratory